Comparison

CFA Essentials vs CFA Study Planner

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

CFA Essentials

Prepare for CFA Levels I, II, and III exams with comprehensive curriculum coverage and LOS-focused content. Master complex financial concepts with clear explanations and essential formulas, perfect for on-the-go study.

Highlights
  • Complete curriculum coverage
  • LOS-focused content
  • Clear explanations of financial concepts
  • Essential formulas
  • Study on the go
Features
Read full description

Prepare for the CFA Level I, II, and III exams with confidence using CFA Essentials. Our app provides a comprehensive and structured approach to mastering the curriculum, designed specifically for busy candidates who need efficient study tools. **Key Features:** • Complete Curriculum Coverage: Access detailed explanations for all major topic areas across all three levels. • LOS-Focused Content: Every module is aligned with the official Learning Outcome Statements (LOS), ensuring you focus on exactly what you need to know for your specific exam level. • Clear Explanations: Complex financial concepts are broken down into easy-to-understand notes, helping you grasp difficult topics quickly. • Essential Formulas: Master the math with clear presentation of key formulas and equations, from Time Value of Money to Derivatives and Portfolio Management. • Study on the Go: Perfect for commuting or quick review sessions, giving you access to high-quality study material whenever you have a moment. Whether you are just starting your Level I journey or finalizing your preparation for Level III, CFA Essentials is your companion for exam success. Download now and take the next step towards your charter.

About

CFA Study Planner

Features
Read full description

DISCLAIMER: Chartered is an independent third-party study planning app. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by CFA Institute. CFA is a registered trademark of CFA Institute. All references to CFA exams are for descriptive purposes only to identify the subject matter this app is designed to support. Chartered is the study planner built for finance exam candidates who are serious about passing. Preparing for the Chartered Financial Analyst exam is one of the hardest things you will do in your career. 300 plus hours per level. Thousands of Learning Outcome Statements. Three levels. Years of your life. Most candidates study alone with no tutor and no way to know if they are on track. Chartered changes that. KNOW WHERE YOU STAND The weekly leaderboard groups you with every candidate appearing for the same exam sitting as you. See your percentile ranking in real time. Calculated from your hours studied, syllabus coverage and mastery rating. Finally know if your 8 hours this week is a lot or a little compared to everyone else sitting the same exam. TRACK EVERY SESSION Four timer modes built for serious study. Pie Timer lets you drag to set your session length and watch the pie shrink as time passes. Clock records elapsed time from start to stop. Pomodoro gives you 25 minute focus sessions with 5 minute breaks. Countdown lets you pick a preset of 15, 30, 45, 60 or 90 minutes. Every session gets saved to your calendar with the subject, topic covered, session type, mastery rating and your notes. FOLLOW YOUR PROGRESS Every Learning Outcome Statement across all three exam levels is built into the app. Mark each topic as studied or practiced, rate your mastery from 1 to 5, and add personal notes. Watch your syllabus coverage percentage climb as you work through the curriculum. Supports all three Level III pathways including Portfolio Management, Private Wealth Management and Private Markets. HIT YOUR DAILY TARGETS Chartered calculates your required weekly study hours based on your exam date and remaining curriculum. Your home screen shows a daily goal ring, weekly hours bar chart, syllabus coverage and your current percentile all at a glance every morning. SEE YOUR FULL HISTORY The calendar heat map shows every day you have studied and how many hours logged. Tap any day to see exactly what you studied, which topics you covered, your mastery ratings and the notes you wrote during that session. YOUR READINESS INDEX Chartered calculates a Readiness Index every week. A single number from 0 to 100 based on your hours studied, weighted syllabus coverage and average mastery. This powers your leaderboard percentile. Study consistently, cover the curriculum and strengthen weak areas and your percentile climbs automatically. BUILT FOR ALL THREE LEVELS Whether you are starting Level I or finishing Level III, Chartered adapts to your curriculum. Level III candidates select their pathway and get a curriculum tailored to exactly what they need to study. Earning the Chartered Financial Analyst designation takes most candidates 3 to 5 years. Chartered keeps you focused, accountable and on track every single day until you get there. Your charter is waiting. Start tracking.

Screenshots

CFA Essentials4 screens
CFA Study Planner4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CFA Study Planner at none against CFA Essentials's 3. CFA Study Planner also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. CFA Essentials sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. CFA Study Planner asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CFA Essentials ships an update every 3 months, CFA Study Planner every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
CFA Essentials versus CFA Study Planner: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCFA EssentialsCFA Study Planner
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB41 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer晔斌 范Kavya Sharma

In-app purchases

3 purchases

CFA Essentials

Subscriptions2
  • CFA Essentials Monthly Access$1.991 Month
  • CFA Essentials Quarterly Access$3.993 Months
One-time1
  • CFA Essentials Lifetime Unlock$9.99
None

CFA Study Planner

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CFA Essentials free?
CFA Essentials is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CFA Study Planner free?
CFA Study Planner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do CFA Essentials or CFA Study Planner have ads?
Neither CFA Essentials nor CFA Study Planner shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CFA Essentials or CFA Study Planner?
CFA Essentials ships an update every 3 months, and CFA Study Planner every 5 days. Most recently, CFA Essentials was updated on September 21, 2026 and CFA Study Planner on October 2, 2026.

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